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It’s normally after the National that I try to concentrate on the flat.
The Lincoln meeting does suffer as it’s at the same time as the Arab Sports Day in Meydaan but still competitive albeit without any real Group One horses taking part.
One thing that amazes me is that this week the next turf flat will be on Good Friday at Musselburgh, Easter Saturday only has four meetings with nothing scheduled in Yorkshire or the Midlands.
I’ve been doing my own sporting blog for a couple of years now.
Mine is slightly different in that while racing is the main sport that I follow I decided to make it a multi sport one so I also include reviews of non league football,athletics and the odd rugby match.
Wattyracing.wordpress.com
It has a real mix of events in it and I think it makes it a surprise for the reader as you never know what event will come up next.
I rode a Cob when on holiday at Center Parcs,the Penrith one a few years ago and have been champion on Champion Jockey if that counts
This is a tough one but for me being on course on my first visit to Plumpton in April i shall nominate this one.
Tom Cannon on Inthejungle in the 2m4f Chase Friday 27th April.
Coming to the first fence down the back straight on the last circuit he went forward down the neck and almost came off yet he got back in the saddle somehow and got the horse back in contention and ended up winning the race, lots of people myself included ran to the winners enclosure to give him a respectful and well earned cheer.
It said it was free on Freeview but this was utter twaddle as i could not get it after faffing about swapping wires from one thing to another, in the end i heard some appalling Off Tube commentary on Timeform Radio and while they do a good show the call was like it was some bloke in a small room looking at the TV and his card at the same time, I could have done a better job myself i bet.
To give a clue of the size of the task, here are the last five years worth:-
http://www.ostermeyer.co.uk/Racecards.jpg
The previous 25 years worth are in the loft!!!
I’ll be round your house later today then, yeah?
gc
I’ll be round too, will happily enjoy going through all of those.
Well it is at least worth trying to see if it could work.
The hurdles would probably go around the outside of the course i.e. being on the stands side up the home straight.
I could imagine about 5 parts per hurdle as going up the inside would damage the ground but then again Galway seems to cope with using the same strip for hurdles and flat.
I’ve often wondered why Aintree have never gone in for a Summer Saturday meeting when their is no Haydock or Chester on, They would deffo get a good crowd.
Moving the start further down wont help it will if anything make it even worse as jocekys will be jostling for positions and even more fallers could happen which will just add more fuel to the fire.
Best thing i would do is to add a new fence just after the Melling Road which may help but their is really nothing wrong with the current set up although a few tweaks do need to be done.
One thing that could be done is to stick a divide rail at the start so the runners can line up in two groups of 20 runners either in random order or racecard order to keep the huge pack apart which could then converge after the tapes go up after about 10-15 yards.
The start will always be a problem but jockeys must take some flack as they are responsible and should always adhere to the instructions of the starter who has full control and should be able to his job completely
As for the fences they will always be tricky but that is nature of the test, maybe replacing the timber could help but horses should have to jump as that is the nature of jump racing.
Also i would get a local hunt in to act as catchers located around the course at particular parts to help with any loose horses that dont follow the pack.
Safety should always come first but it must be balanced with keeping it a test of horse and not pander to people who only watch one race a year.
Moving the start further down wont help it will if anything make it even worse as jocekys will be jostling for positions and even more fallers could happen which will just add more fuel to the fire.
Best thing i would do is to add a new fence just after the Melling Road which may help but their is really nothing wrong with the current set up although a few tweaks do need to be done.
One thing that could be done is to stick a divide rail at the start so the runners can line up in two groups of 20 runners either in random order or racecard order to keep the huge pack apart which could then converge after the tapes go up after about 10-15 yards.
The start will always be a problem but jockeys must take some flack as they are responsible and should always adhere to the instructions of the starter who has full control and should be able to his job completely
As for the fences they will always be tricky but that is nature of the test, maybe replacing the timber could help but horses should have to jump as that is the nature of jump racing.
Also i would get a local hunt in to act as catchers located around the course at particular parts to help with any loose horses that dont follow the pack.
Safety should always come first but it must be balanced with keeping it a test of horse and not pander to people who only watch one race a year.
I decided to buy a Annual Badge for Hereford as they are now reduced to just £30 which includes a shedful of reciprocals, well worth checking the website.
Personally i think the course will survive, it is in a good area and part of a good collection of courses with Ludlow,Chepstow and Bangor all forming part of a nice village of Jumps racing.
I have also noted that Worcester seem to be going down the same route as Southwell as regards having Steeplechases first then the hurdles with a Bumper inbetween if they have one down.
For me i dont like it and prefer it how it used to be.
I cannot understand why they have done it as they have plenty of turf to use at Worcester.
Remember to look excited if you win Son, don’t want anyone thinking your a miserable bugger after winning a Group 1!
And you would think Warkslad would get the course right, Its Wolverhampton!!!
The only plus side is that the crowd would not have lynched him because nobody ever goes their, Probably why i quite like going their myself!
Age: 33
Gender: Male (last time i checked.
Location (area/type): Lowton nr Wigan.
Occupation / Class: Assemble Cable Reels in a factory i have worked in since 1996 but only been Assembling since about 2004, Working Class and proud to be plus i have never signed on yet and if i did get made redundant i would have no idea where to go to (i am serious by that)Political views: Vote Labour Hate Tories but always respect someone elses Political allegiances
Relationship status: Single.
How often do you go racing?: About Two to Four times a month depending which month it is.
Favourite racecourse(s)?: Large- Aintree,Cheltenham,Haydock,Doncaster,Kempton,Sandown and Newbury.
Small-Hamilton,Bangor,Uttoxeter,Plumpton,Warwick and Wolverhampton.
How would you improve the racegoing experience?: Cheaper entrance fees,Limit on Alcohol a person can have on course,Racecourses that are a country mile away e.g. Kelso,Ffos Las,Sedgefield,Fakenham to put on Special Raceday buses so people who use public transport can get their and help with the Carbon foorprint.
What initially got you into racing?: Saturday afternoons when younger my Dad would be having his usual bets, always allowed 25p bets on the National so got into it from their.
Which other sports to you watch?: Football,F1,Rugby both codes,Cricket and Athletics
Flat or Jumps?: More a Jumps man but enjoy either code, also dont mind the AW as the community for it is nice and enjoy seeing the owners and trainers at the bottom end get their chance.
Favourite horse(s) of all time?: Desert Orchid,Kauto Star,One Man,Monets Garden,Big Buck’s,Sea the Stars,Frankel,Nashwan and Yeats.
Racing hero(s)?: Unsure about using the word hero, Racing has various characters and people who are all good in their own way.
Do you gamble? Not really a gambler, for me £10 is my limit, I love the sport but always have a bet in every race when on course even if i dont really fancy anything, Better to bet and lose than not bet at all!
What are your views on promotion of the sport?: Does a good job and now social media is being used it can only help tracks in getting people in and others watching at home.
What are your views on animal welfare?: We go all out here for animal safety, i do think that in NH racing that local hunts should be employed as outriders to help catch loose horses.
How would you improve the sport in general?: Get everything run under one banner called British Racing plc, make them responsible for fixtures,media,finance,stewarding etc.
Finally, is racing bent? When 17 runner races on telly become a 15 runner event then you do wonder, You can never say a 100% no i think, but proving it is another matter for the authorities.
Anything else?
He was doing his usual Tommo TV at Cartmel on Monday.
All went ok, its the sort of place where it work with the holiday crowd and was giving lots of things away in his Lucky Bucket which on close inspection now has his name and photo on it in Tote livery.
After the third race i put my losing slips in and got drawn out and ended up the winner of 12 bottles of Cartmel Chaser Ale.
Very enjoyable it was too.
First of all a great performance from an amazing 3yo who deserves all the plaudits, for me he is the Denman of the flat.
But now when will we see him race again?
The International at York could be a chance but the next Group 1 race over a mile is not until October at Ascot unless they go to Deauville.
Cant see him going to Haydock for the Sprint Cup so what will it be for this fantastic horse?
